Grain-drier



No. 622,521. Patented Apr. 4, i899. J. Mcm-xmas..

GRAIN DRIEB.

(Application led Sept. 3, 1898.)

` 2 Sheets-Shee l.

(N0 Model.)

nu; ummm :evans co. moraumo.. wAsmNsTmn r Patented Apr. 4, l899. J.McDANlEL.

G R Al N D R E R.

(Application med sept. a, 189e.)

2 Sheets-Sweet 2.

(No Model.)

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Tm: News PETERS co, morn-mwa WASHINGTON. D C

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Arnnr i elAMES MCDANIEL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GRAIN-momen.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. easei, dated April 4,Iseo.

Application I'lled September S, 1898. Serial No. 690,175. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCDANIEL, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county,Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGrain-Driers, of which the following is a specication.

rllhis invention relates to improvements in devices designed for use indrying grain, and particularly for drying wheat after it has been passedthrough a washing device for removing smut; and the objects I have inview are to provide a machine of this character having a large capacityand in which the wheat or other grain can be thoroughly dried in a shortspace of time, to provide a machine of this character that is readilypnt together or taken down when desired, and to provide a machine ofthis character in which the grain is first subjected to a current of hotair and then to a current of cold air and in which the passage of thegrain into and from the machine is automatically regulated.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and `combinationshereinafter described, and particularly pointed ont in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is atransverse section taken above the feedn regulating valve and showingthe construction and arrangement of such valve. Fig. 3 is a transversesection on line a: oc of Fig. 1, showing the angle irons arrangedbetween the two cylinders for the purpose of properly spacing saidcylinders. Fig. 4. is a detail view ofthe removable cylinder. Fig. 5 isa detail view showing the means for securing the edges of the removablecylinder after it has been placed in position in the device. Fig. 6 is atransverse section on line 3./ yof Fig. 1, showing the pipes forconducting the cold air from the lower fan through the hopper and intothe interior of the device. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the preferablearrangement of the perforations that are provided in the inner and outercylinders.

ln the drawings, 2, 3, and 4 represent the floors of the mill, elevator,or other building in which the device is placed, and, ashere l shown,the device is arranged to extend through three stories of the building,al-

though, if preferred, the device may be all arranged upon one floor orin any other suitable relation to the building in which it is located. Aperforated cylinder 5 is provided near its upper end with a shoulder orangleiron 6, and this cylinder is preferably ar=s ranged to drop throughthe iioor 4,so as to have the angle-iron 6 rest upon said door andsupporting said cylinder. Above this cylinder is another cylinder' 7,preferably imperforate and provided with the angle-iron 8 near its lowerend, and the end of the cylinder 7 preferably fits into the upper end ofthe cylinder 5, and the angle-iron 8 rests upon the top end of thecylinder 5, and thereby supports said cylinder in position. The cylinder7 is also preferably provided with the wire screen 9, extendingtransversely across it, and also with the regulating-valve, comprisingthe two curved pivoted plates 10, mounted upon rods or shafts 11, thatare supported in bearings in the wall of the cylinder 7, and said platesare also pro-` vided with levers 12, connected by links 13 with anadjustable connecting-rod 14, which extends above the cylinder and hasits upper end connected to the lever 15. The opposite end of this leveris connected to the rod 1G, which extends to thelower end of the drierand is connected by means of a rod 17 with the discharge-valve 1S,located in a suitable spout 19, as shown in Fig. 1. This valve is a-r-Jranged to automatically govern the flow of grain from the machine and isin turn automatically controlled by the valve-plates 10 10, ashereinafter described. The cylinder 7 is preferably provided with a top20, and this may'furnish a support for a bearing 21 for the lever 15. Aspout 22 is preferably arranged to conduct the grain to the center oferably extends to a point near the floor 3 and to a transverse head orpartition 24, which is provided with a central opening and with a cover25. The cylinder 23 is preferably perm forated throughout its entirelength, the perforations lbeing preferably of the form and arrangementshown in detail in Fig. 7, and

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it is provided at suitable intervals upon itsinner surface with theangle-iron rings 26, the lower one of which forms a bearing or restsupon the transverse partition 24. The cylinder 23 is of less diameterthan the cylinder 5, so that a space, preferably an inch and a half, inthe machine as actually constructed is left between the outer surface ofthe cylinder 23 and the inner surface of the cylinder 5, and for thepurpose of holding these cylinders in the correct relation to each otherI prefer to provide a series of vertical angle-iron strips 27, (see Fig.3,) that are secured upon the inner surface of the cylinder 5 and extendin vertical lines between said cylinders 5 and 23, the length of theseangleirons being substantially equal to the length of the cylinder 5.For convenience of illustration the cylinder 23 is broken off at thecenter in Fig. 1 of the drawings; but it will be understood that thiscylinder in actual practice will be of considerable length and it may beof any desired length. Above the cylinder 23 and preferably fitting ontothe upper end of said cylinder is a suitable cone 28, and to this ispreferably secured the pipeelbow 29, the lower end of which is arrangedcentrally within the cylinder 23 when the cone 2S is in position, asshown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the elbow 29 is preferably just withinthe cylinder 7, as shown in Fig.

1. A fan 30 is preferably arranged in a suitable casing 3l and mounted,preferably, upon thefloor4 and near the cylinder 7. The casing31 of thisfan is provided with the exitspout 32, which is arranged opposite anopening in the cylinder 7, and a pipe 33 is arranged to slide on thepipe 32 and to make connection between said pipe 32 and the pipe-elbow29, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. With this arrangement when itisdesired to disconnect the fan from the drier the pipe 33 is slipped backonthe pipe 32 and is thereby disconnected from the pipe-elbow 29. lVhenthe parts are in this position, the lever 15 being uncoupled from therod 16, the cylinder 7 may be lifted off the cone 2S. The pipe-elbow 29may then be lifted off from the end of the cylinder 23, and the cylinder5 and the cylinder 23 may then both be removed, preferably by liftingthem up through the opening in the floor 4. As above stated, thecylinder 5 is preferably quite short, and below said cylinder,surrounding the cylinder 23, I prefer to arrange the removable cylinder34; This cylinderis preferably perforated throughout, and it isprefera-bly formed of galvanized sheet metal, so that it may be putaround the cylinder 23, and it is then secured in position by having itsedges brought together, as shown in Fig. 5, with angle-irons 35 placedupon the opposite sides ofsaid edges and bolts 3G put through saidangle-irons and said edges of the cylinder. A cylinder 37 correspondingsubstantially to the cylinder 5, provided at its upper end withangle-irons 3S, is arranged below the cylinder23, and it is preferablysupported by means of said angle-irons upon the floor 3, through whichit extends. The cylinder 37 is preferably substantially the same lengthas the cylinder 5, and the lower end of the cylinder 34 is carriedaround the upper end of said cylinder 37, as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The cylinder 37 is preferably short, extending only a shortdistance below the floor 3, and within it is arranged avertical seriesof angle-irons 39, corresponding to the angle-irons 27, arranged withinthe cylinder 5, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Within the cylinder37 is a cylinder 40, whose upper end,provided with an angle-iron 41,supports the division or head 24, and the lower end of the cylinder 40rests upon a division or head42 at the lower end of the drier. An outercylinder 43 is arranged out-side of and below the cylinder 37 andout-side of the cylinder 40, and its lower endis supported upon anangle-iron or ring 44, that is arranged below the upper end of theimperforate cylinder 45, that rests upon the floor 2 and within which isarranged the hopper 4G, that discharges into the pipe 19. The cylinder45 is provided with the inlet-pipe 47, and the fan 4S, arranged in asuitable fan-casing 49, is provided with a discharge-pipe 59, and thepipe 51 is arranged to slide upon the discharge-pipe 50 and to makeconnection with the pipe 47. Four upright pipes or tubes 52 extend fromthe space within the cylinder 45 and below the hopper 46 up through saidhopper and through the head 42 into the space within the cylinder 40, asshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The cylinder 43 is preferablyconstructed in the same manner as the cylinder 34 and is adapted to beplaced in position and secured by having its edges connected by means ofsuitable angle-iron strips and bolts, as shown in detail in Fig. 5.

The cylinders 5, 23, 34, 37, 40, and 43 are all perforated, and thestyle of perforation that'I prefer is that shown in detail in Fig. 7 ofthe drawings, although it will be understood that I do not limit myselfto any preferred style, arrangement, or size of perforations.

The operation of the device is as follows: The valve 18 in thedischarge-pipe 19 is normally closed, and the wheat or other grainpassing through the spout 22 falls through the screen 9 and, passingdown over the upper surface of the cone 28, enters the annular spacebetween the upper cylinder 23 andthe outer upper cylinders 5 and 34, andthence passes on into the annular space between the lower cylinder 40and the lower outer cylinders 37 and 43 and completely iills this space.By means ofthe fan 30 hot air is blown into the space within the uppercylinder 23, and this air passes out through the perforations in saidcylinder, passes through the annular body of wheat between thecylinders, and escapes through the perforations in thecylinders 5 and34. Cold air is blown into the space within the lower cylinder 40 andpasses 'moved.

out through the perforations in said cylinder and through the annularbody of wheat and escapes through the perforations in the cylinders 37and 43. After this operation has gone on for a certain length of timethe grain piling up on the cone 28 fills up the space below the valve 1010, and the weight of the grain accummulating upon the upper surface ofsaid valve swings the plates outward, thereby drawing down the rod 14,raising the rod 16, and opening the valve 13. The grain begins to runout through the pipe 19, and this continues until the lowering of thegrain at the upper end of the drier permits the valve 10 10 to return toits normal position and closes the valve 1S. This operation is repeatedso long as the grain iiowsinto the drier. It will thus be seen that theannular space between the perforated cylinders is constantly filled withgrain, and through this grain first the hot air and then the cold air isconstantly passing, and thereby the grain is very rapidly dried, so that-when it passes out of the drier it is completely dried and may bepassed at once to the milling machinery.

It will also be noted that the machine may be readily taken apart or setup wherever or whenever desired. In order to take the machine apart, thespout 22 is removed and the lever 15 is disconnected from the rod 16.The upper cylinder 7, with the valve and screen 9, may then be liftedoff. The pipe 33 is then slipped back upon the pipe 32, and the cone 28and pipe-elbow 29 can be lifted off the cylinder 23. The cylinder 34 maythen be removed and the cylinder 5 lifted out of the opening in thefloor. The cylinder 23 may then be lifted out. The head 24 may then bere- The lower `cylinder 43 may then be removed. Then the cylinder 37 maybe lifted out of the opening in the floor. Then the cylinder 4t) may belifted out of'the opening in the floor. The pipe 5l may be slipped backupon the pipe 50 and disconnected from the pipe 47. The cylinder 45 maythen be removed and after that the hopper 46. In setting up the devicethese operations are reversed, and the various parts may readily be putin place and connected in the manner herein shown and described.

I do not limit myself to the details of the construction herein shownand described, as it isv evident that the same may be varied inmanyparticulars without departing from my invention.

llaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- '1. A grain-drier,comprising in combination,

inner and outer perforated 'cylinders arranged with an annularspacebetween them, atransverse division extending across said inner cylinderand dividing the space within said cylinders into two separatecompartments, and means for forcing air into each of said com partmentsand permitting the same to esn cape through said perforated cylindersand through the body of grain contained in the annular space betweensaid cylinders, for the purpose set forth.

2. A grain-drier,comprising in combination, inner and outerperforatedcylinders arranged with an annular space between them,a trans versedivision extending across said inner cylinder and dividing the spacewithin said cylinders into separate compart-m ents', means for forcinghot air into one of said compartments and means for forcing cold airintothe other compartment, whereby the air from both compartments ispermitted to escape through the perforated cylinders and through thebody of grain contained within the annular space between said cylinders,for the purpose set forth.

3. A grain-drier,comprising in combination, upright inner and outerperforated cylinders arranged with an annular space between them, atransverse division extending across said inner cylinder and dividingthe space within said cylinders into an upper and a lower compartment,means for feeding the grain by gravity into the annular space betweensaid cylinders, means for forcing hot air into said upper compartmentand means for forcing cold air into the lower compartment whereby saidair is permitted to cscape through said perforated. cylinders andthrough the body of grain contained within the annular space betweensaid cylinders, for the purpose set forth.

4. A graindrier,-comprising in combination,

' upright inner and outer perforated cylinders arranged with an annularspace between them, a transverse division extending across said innercylinder and dividing the space within said cylinders into upper andlower compartments, means for feeding grain by gravity into the annularspace between said cylinders, and means for regulating the flow of grainfrom said annular space whereby said space is kept full of grain whilethe device is in operation, means for forcing hot air into Said uppercompartment and means for forcing cold air into said lower compartment,whereby said air is permitted to escape through said perforatedcylinders and through the body of grain contained within the annularspace between said cylinders, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,with the removable cylinders 5 and 7, of theremovableperforated cylinder 23 arranged within the cylinn der 5, theouter removable cylinder 34, means for feeding grain into the annularspace bef tween the inner cylinder 23 and the outer cylinders 5 and 34,and means for forcing air into the space within said cylinder 23, forthe purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the inner and outer perforated cylindersarranged with an annular space between them, means for feed-A ing graininto said annular space and means for forcing air into the space withinthe inner cylinder of the discharge-pipe, a suitable TOO IIO

valve located in said discharge-pipe, a valve located below theinlet-pipe comprising pivoted plates l0 and means supporting` the saine,and means connecting said valve with the valve in the discharge-pipewhereby the flow 'of grain from the drier is automatically regulated,substantially as described.

7. Agrain-drier,comprisingin combination, upright, inner and outerperforated cylinders arrangedwith an annular space between them, meansdividing the space within said cylinders into compartments, means forfeeding grain by gravity into the annular space between said cylinders,and means for regulating` the flow of grain from said annular spacewhereby said space is kept full of grain I while the device is inoperation, means for forcing hot air into one of said compartments andineansfor forcing cold air into another compartment, whereby said air ispermitted

